blackjack2564
Crazy Jim's Gone Banana's
Jim, very cool. Mach 2.8...measured by which device?
1.8 not 2.8 RadaR ................................... just kidding. RRC3 [been pretty darn close so far to GPS]
Going to MWP, will I see ya there?
Jim, very cool. Mach 2.8...measured by which device?
Is Charlie going to offer that interstage coupler for sale? Beautiful work...
New Carolina Composite products teaser......
How about a gorgeous fiberglass 24mm Von Karmon cone weighing only 25grams painted. Will hold a tele mini easily for those high altitude attempts! BlackHawk24 for comparison.
View attachment 274710
Or a simple hand tightened/compression jig to make ignition pellets from Pyrodex or BKNO3 powder?
View attachment 274711
29mm Von Karmon NC easily holds a Marshall tracker & RRC3 & Lipo weighs 28grams painted. Molds for both these cones now finished. BlackHawk 29 for comparison.
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I will have both cones and pellets press at MidWest Power for your approval & pre-orders. Charlie will have to discuss prices, I'm just the Beta Tester. I do know prices are VERY reasonable.
Charlie will be there with his 2 stage 38 minimum featuring new head-end ignition, using the pellet installed in front closure.[it's sized to fit ] You can discuss any custom work with him for pricing.
Well my lead came in today. I spent hours looking at various types of lead looking for the densest stuff I could find. Shot...but # 8 was smallest...various solid bars, but that would mean casting it to fit & I didn't want to be melting lead. [been there done that]
Then I remembered my dad used to make golf clubs, he used powdered lead dumped down the shaft to get added swing weight and momentum with his big headed drivers. So I went to "Golfworks" supplier of all thing golf & viola...found it. But the same company sells on E-bay with cheaper shipping, actually after the first one, the rest is free!
Anyone with a small minimum diameter project needing nose weight, pay attention, I'm on to something here! This is as dense as t gets without melting and making a solid plug.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/252047142693
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So the big question: solid lead has a density of 2.43 cubic inches, how close would the powder be?
Pretty damn close. Here are dimensions of container came in. [roughly] To the fill line.
2.25 x 1 .75
View attachment 269891 View attachment 269896
I poured a bit on paper next to 325 mesh mag to see grain size.
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After pushing around with finger and pouring off, it left no residue, unlike the mag.
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Finally a lb in cereal bowl after swishing around no lead residue....I'm impressed with it.
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Measured from top of eyebolt in 3in. NC........14in of usable space.
After filling with 1 lb of lead 12in of space....leaving plenty for a 45in chute and shock cord.
Only lost 2in of tapered area of cone....Success!
Will mix with epoxy & pour later after rigging ice-water bath to keep from overheating.
I have thought intensely about your comments Eric & have a "plan B" of bringing a payload for to Punisher just in case.
My thinking as of now, is flying first with 2-g 54mm motor in sustainer and another 54 in booster which yields a stability factor of almost 5.5.
After playing more with sims....by shortening booster, I lose stability, hmmmm go figure. I post the file later.
View attachment 269899
Not firing sustainer, just have motor in it for added stability. Fire separation charge & booster which yield around a 5,000ft flight.
If it gets squirrelly at all- go to plan B. I'm trying to keep this as compact as possible, so hopefully i won't end up with an Amramm.lol
Wayco...got the lead in. Rest assured, when I get the GPS, I WILL get it in there....even if I have to use a shoe horn.LOL
How about using tungsten powder? It's much denser, so it leaves more room in the NC for other things you want to put there. Here is a link I found to it.
https://www.golftown.com/Clubmaking...ighting-Tungsten-Powder-4oz-8377#.VoRSwvkrK9I
Tungsten is more dense than lead. Also more expensive. There are tungsten BB's, discs, and other solid tungsten pieces. You pay for it though. We use tungsten weights in Pinewood Derby cars because it packs a lot more weight into a smaller area.
How about using tungsten powder? It's much denser, so it leaves more room in the NC for other things you want to put there. Here is a link I found to it.
https://www.golftown.com/Clubmaking...ighting-Tungsten-Powder-4oz-8377#.VoRSwvkrK9I
And its not toxic, which is the main reason people started moving away from lead in Pinewood Derby cars. I still however use lead because its easy to work with as long as precautions are taken to prevent inhalation and ingestion.
Well several reasons not to use.....
The price is 30.00 per 4 ounces + shipping.
Thats 120.00 @ lb!!!!
I needed 1 lb. Lost only 2in. in tip of cone,where long eyebolt is located. Mixture surrounded the eyebolt & covered it. I lost NO usable space that close to tip.
Tungsten not required....why spend money?
Smallest rocket we used in was 38mm record holder that only needed 4oz. Once again, so far forward in tip, no usable space lost.
The product I use is ''no dust" safe, to use unless you eat it....lol
I successfully flew this at MWP with the Alpha Missleworks GPS/RTx unit, with the 3rd Booster & aluminum I/S coupler.
Awaiting arrival of the new GREATLY improved beta unit, any day now.
New feature added turns base into [for lack of better description] RF tracker, or I should say works like one. Base will store last co-ordinate permanently, [until deleted] so if you have to go back next day to hunt it brings it up, even if battery is dead. Now there are "arrows" on LCD that "point" you in correct direction to find.
You walk straight ahead towards rocket, that arrow will be pointing straight ahead. Wander off course going around trees creek etc. the left or right arrow will come on on point ,till your walking/driving straight to rocket again when that arrows appears.
So I should have it soon for the Jan. launch , I hope.
Will give updates on flights & GPS when they happen.:smile:
After returning to camp & discussing flight, Chris Short asked me "how did you contain your apogee charges"?
Ding...Ding..ding. I instantly knew what went wrong, my own stupid error.
A month earlier, when prepping my 2 high altitude flights [over 20,000] I had both Identical head end deploy NC's on the table. I mounted the aluminum charge containers on one and finished loading, sealing them. Phone rings, I talk for an hour or so with fellow rocketeer, then return to finish 2nd NC.
Even though 2 more charge tubes were right there, ready to mount, I just made 2 charges in glove tips...DEE..dee...deeee!
This all came flooding back , when Chris asked about my charges. So now ya know why I consider flight a success. At least I figured out my error & believe you me...it will NEVER happen again!
Maybe I am missing something here but what was the problem?
It went too high for the black powder containment method.BP needs to be contained somewhat firmly for it to work at higher altitudes. If it is not contained properly there is not enough heat transfer to continue the burn as the particles begin to move apart.
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